Changes

* ''Born: [[1543]]''

* ''Born: Tenmon 11/12/26 (31 Jan [[1543]])''

* ''Died: [[1616]]''

* ''Died: [[1616]]''

* ''Titles: Shôgun, Udaijin, Ôgosho, Mikawa no Kami, Daifu'' (内府, his title at the time of Sekigahara, short for 内大臣、''Naidaijin'')

* ''Titles: Shôgun, Udaijin, Ôgosho, Mikawa no Kami, Daifu'' (内府, his title at the time of Sekigahara, short for 内大臣、''Naidaijin'')

==The Matsudaira==

==The Matsudaira==

[[Image:Tokugawa_ieyasu.jpg||thumb|right|Tokugawa Ieyasu]]

[[Image:Tokugawa_ieyasu.jpg||thumb|right|Tokugawa Ieyasu]]

Tokugawa Ieyasu was born Matsudaira Takechiyo, the son of [[Matsudaira Hirotada]] ([[1526]]-[[1549]]), a relatively minor [[Mikawa Province|Mikawa]] lord who had spent much of his young life fending off the military advances of the Oda and the political ploys of the Imagawa. The question of accepting Imagawa rule had been a source of controversy within the Matsudaira for many years, and had in fact contributed to the murder of Hirotada's father (Kiyoyasu) in [[1536]]. Hirotada's own leanings towards the Imagawa, whom he saw as the lesser of two evils, had driven a number of family members into the arms of the Oda. To a great extent, [[Oda Nobuhide]] made his decision for him. In [[1548]] the Oda attacked Mikawa, and Hirotada turned to [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]] for assistance. Yoshimoto was only too willing to throw the considerable weight of the Imagawa in with Hirotada but on the condition that Hirotada's young son be sent to [[Sumpu castle]] as a hostage. The decision was not an easy one, and prompted a storm of protest within the Matsudaira, but in the end Hirotada agreed. Takechiyo was duly prepared and sent off on the road east with a group of other young men (also hostages but primarily present to serve Takechiyo). Unfortunately, the wily Oda Nobuhide caught wind of the deal, and saw to it that Takechiyo's entourage was intercepted on the road to [[Suruga province|Suruga]]. Takechiyo was wisked away to [[Owari province|Owari]] and confined to [[Kowatari castle]]. While he was not badly treated, Nobuhide threatened to put him to death unless Hirotada renounce his ties with the Imagawa and ally with the Oda. Hirotada wisely elected to call his Owari rival's bluff and made no response except to say that the sacrifice of his own son could only impress upon the Imagawa his dedication to their pact. Nobuhide was no doubt disappointed his scheme had not borne fruit, but did young Takechiyo no harm. The following year, [[1549]], both Hirotada and Nobuhide passed away, leaving the Matsudaira leaderless and the already splintered Oda weakened. Imagawa wasted no time in capitalizing on this turn of events, and dispatched his uncle, Sessai, with an army to attack the Oda's border castles. The primary objective was Anjo, a former Matsudaira fort which presently housed Oda Nobuhiro, Nobuhide's eldest son and successor. Sessai, a renowned warrior, surrounded Anjo, and the fall of that place looked to be inevitable. Yet rather then press home the assault, Sessai struck a bargain with [[Oda Nobunaga]], Nobuhide's 2nd son. Anjo - and Nobuhiro - would be spared in return for the release of Takechiyo. Nobunaga had little choice but to agree, and Sessai returned to Suruga with Takechiyo, who finally arrived in Sumpu after a year's delay.  

Tokugawa Ieyasu was born Matsudaira Takechiyo, the eldest son of 16-year-old [[Matsudaira Hirotada]] ([[1526]]-[[1549]]) and the 14-year-old [[Odai no kata]] ([[1528]]-[[1602]]). Hirotada had spent much of his young life fending off the military advances of the [[Oda clan]] and the political ploys of the [[Imagawa clan]], and was now lord of [[Okazaki castle]], a relatively minor territory in [[Mikawa province]]. The question of accepting Imagawa rule had been a source of controversy among the leaders of the [[Matsudaira clan]] for many years, and had in fact contributed to the murder of Hirotada's father [[Matsudaira Kiyoyasu]] in [[1536]]. Hirotada's own leanings towards the Imagawa, whom he saw as the lesser of two evils, had driven a number of family members into the arms of the Oda. To a great extent, [[Oda Nobuhide]] made his decision for him.  

Takechiyo's life in the capital of the Imagawa would not be uncomfortable, but for those Matsudaira kinsmen and retainers back in Mikawa, the following years would be long and depressing. Happy to take advantage of the clan's sad state, Yoshimoto saw to it that Imagawa men received important posts and forts within Mikawa.

In [[1547]] the Oda attacked Mikawa, and Hirotada turned to [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]] for assistance. Yoshimoto was only too willing to throw the considerable weight of the Imagawa in with Hirotada but on the condition that Hirotada's young son be sent to [[Sunpu castle]] as a hostage. The decision was not an easy one, and prompted a storm of protest within the Matsudaira, but in the end Hirotada agreed. Takechiyo was duly prepared and sent off on the road east with a group of other young men (also hostages but primarily present to serve Takechiyo). However, Oda Nobuhide caught wind of the deal, and saw to it that Takechiyo's entourage was intercepted on the road to [[Suruga province]]. Takechiyo was whisked away to [[Owari province]] and confined to [[Kowatari castle]]. While he was not badly treated, Nobuhide threatened to put him to death unless Hirotada renounce his ties with the Imagawa and ally with the Oda. Hirotada wisely elected to call his Owari rival's bluff and made no response except to say that the sacrifice of his own son could only impress upon the Imagawa his dedication to their pact. Nobuhide was no doubt disappointed his scheme had not borne fruit, but still did young Takechiyo no harm. The following year, [[1549]], both Hirotada and Nobuhide passed away, leaving the Matsudaira leaderless and the already splintered Oda weakened. Imagawa wasted no time in capitalizing on this turn of events, and dispatched his uncle, [[Taigen Sessai]], with an army to attack the Oda's border castles. The primary objective was [[Anjo castle|Anjô]], a former Matsudaira fort which presently housed [[Oda Nobuhiro]], Nobuhide's eldest son and successor. Sessai, a renowned warrior, surrounded Anjô, and the castle's fall looked to be inevitable. Yet, rather then press home the assault, Sessai struck a bargain with [[Oda Nobunaga]], Nobuhide's second son. Anjô - and Nobuhiro - would be spared in return for the release of Takechiyo. Nobunaga had little choice but to agree, and Sessai returned to Suruga with Takechiyo, who traded one hostage situation for another.  

 

Takechiyo's life in the Imagawa castle was not unpleasant; despite being a "hostage," he was raised alongside Imagawa sons, and trained and educated in the ways of samurai lords. Meanwhile, Yoshimoto took advantage of the Matsudaira clan's continued weakness, and saw to it that Imagawa men received important posts and forts within Mikawa.

==Independence==

==Independence==

Takechiyo came of age [[1556]], and received the name [[Matsudaira Motoyasu]], the “Moto-” coming from Yoshimoto himself. He was allowed to return to Mikawa that same year, and was tasked with fighting a series of battles against the Oda on the Imagawa's behalf. For all the damage the years of Imagawa interference and in-fighting had wrought, the famed fighting spirit of the Mikawa samurai was hardly tarnished. Motoyasu scored a notable local victory at Terabe and made a name for himself (at Nobunaga's expense) with the provisioning of [[Odaka castle|Odaka]]. In that instance, Motoyasu had brought in much-needed supplies to a beleaguered fort by tricking the bulk of the attackers into marching away to face a non-existent enemy army. With these victories, the Mikawa men began to grumble that it was time for the Matsudaira to be allowed to set their own course. Yoshimoto, however, was much too busy with planning his most ambitious military endeavor to be bothered with such trivialities.  

Takechiyo celebrated his ''[[genpuku]]'' (coming of age) in [[1555]], at age 13, and received the name Matsudaira Motonobu, the “Moto-” coming from Yoshimoto himself. He was allowed to return to Mikawa the following year, and his earliest extant writings relate elements of this trip, during which he was able for the first time to visit his father's grave. Despite his hostage status, he remained (following his father's death) the head of the Matsudaira clan, and retained the power to grant land to his vassals; surviving documents show he did so at this time, at age 14, reaffirming the temple Daisen-ji in its territory, and assuring that anyone who violated his stipulations would be "strictly punished."<ref>Pitelka, 35.</ref>

 

In [[1557]], Motonobu was married to a daughter of [[Sekiguchi Chikanaga]] (aka Sena Yoshihiro), a vassal of the Imagawa who was a hostage alongside him. She later came to be known as [[Tsukiyama-dono]], and gave Motonobu his first son, [[Matsudaira Nobuyasu]], in [[1559]]/3. Motonobu also changed his name to Motoyasu around this time.

 

Meanwhile, Motoyasu began accompanying Imagawa Yoshimoto on military campaigns, beginning in [[1558]]; these chiefly involved fighting against the Oda on the Imagawa's behalf. He scored a notable local victory at Terabe and made a name for himself (at Nobunaga's expense) with the provisioning of [[Odaka castle]]. In that instance, Motoyasu had brought in much-needed supplies to a beleaguered fort by tricking the bulk of the attackers into marching away to face a non-existent enemy army. With these victories, the Mikawa men began to grumble that it was time for Motoyasu to return to Okazaki, and for the Matsudaira to be allowed to set their own course. Yoshimoto, however, insisted on retaining Motoyasu as a hostage, and as a general in his armies.

He was married in [[1558]] to a daughter of [[Sekiguchi Chikanaga]], a vassal of the Imagawa who was a hostage alongside him. She gave him his first son, [[Matsudaira Nobuyasu]], the following year. Both mother and son would be accused of treason against Nobunaga in [[1579]], at which point Nobuyasu was forced to commit suicide, and his mother killed by one of Ieyasu's retainers.<ref name=arai110>Arai Hakuseki, Joyce Ackroyd (trans.), Told Round a Brushwood Fire, University of Tokyo Press (1979), 303n110.</ref>

Yoshimoto then assembled an army of as many as 20,000 men in [[1560]] and prepared to march on Kyoto. No other ''daimyô'' had attempted such a move since [[Ouchi Yoshioki|Ôuchi Yoshioki]] had restored [[Ashikaga Yoshitane]] in [[1508]], and this was possible only after a decade of political dealing with the [[Takeda clan|Takeda]] and [[Go-Hojo clan|Hôjô clans]]. To this end, the Matsudaira would be in the vanguard of the army, though when the campaign began in June, Motoyasu was dispatched from the main army to bring down [[Marune castle]]. After a bit of tough fighting, the fort was brought down and the Mikawa men were allowed to linger there for a time and rest. For this reason, Motoyasu and his clan avoided the [[Battle of Okehazama]], in which Imagawa Yoshimoto was killed. Hearing of Yoshimoto's death, Motoyasu retreated back across the border into Mikawa, and afterwards worked to free himself of Imagawa influence. Pragmatic despite his youth, Motoyasu proceeded to strike up an alliance with Nobunaga; this was done initially in secret, however, as a number of his close family (including his infant son) were still being held hostage in Sunpu by Yoshimoto's successor, [[Imagawa Ujizane]]. In [[1561]], Motoyasu ordered the capture of [[Kaminogo castle|Kaminogô castle]], an endeavor that served a number of purposes. Firstly, it sent a clear message to Nobunaga that the Matsudaira had cut their ties to the Imagawa. Secondly, Motoyasu got his hands on two sons of the slain castle commander, [[Udono Nagamochi]], who he then used to barter with Ujizane. Perhaps due to the fact that the [[Udono clan|Udono]] were a important Imagawa retainer clan, Ujizane agreed to release Motoyasu's family members in return for the Udono children. As soon as he was reunited with his wife and son, Motoyasu was free to make any moves he wished without hindrance. The next few years were thus spent rebuilding a Matsudaira clan badly fragmented by years of strife and a province weakened by war. To this end he carefully nurtured and strengthened his retainer band by giving them lands and positions within the administration of Mikawa. Chief among his followers at this time were [[Ishikawa Kazumasa]], [[Sakai Tadatsugu]], [[Sakikabara Yasumasa]], [[Koriki Kiyonaga]], and [[Honda Tadakatsu]]. Luckily, there were castles to be had within Mikawa's borders, manned by Imagawa men, which he could take and redistribute, doing so to a large extent by [[1566]].

In [[1560]], he assembled an army of as many as 20,000 men and prepared to march on Kyoto. No other daimyo had attempted such a move since [[Ouchi Yoshioki]] had restored [[Ashikaga Yoshitane]] in [[1508]] and was possible only after a decade of political dealing with the Takeda and Hojo clans. To this end, the Matsudaira would be in the vanguard of the army, though when the campaign began in June, Motoyasu was dispatched from the main army to bring down Marune. After a bit of tough fighting, the fort was brought down and the Mikawa men allowed to lager there for a time resting. For this reason Motoyasu and his clan were able to avoid the [[Battle of Okehazama]], which occurred some miles away and cost the life of Yoshimoto himself. Motoyasu readily retreated back across the border into Mikawa, and afterwards worked to free himself of Imagawa influence. Pragmatic despite his youth, Motoyasu proceeded to strike up an alliance with Nobunaga, though initially in secret - a number of his close family (including his infant son) were still held hostage in Sumpu by Yoshimoto's successor, Ujizane. In [[1561]] Motoyasu ordered the capture of Kaminojo, an endeavor that served a number purposes. Firstly, it sent a clear message to Nobunaga that the Matsudaira had really and truly cut their ties to the Imagawa. Secondly, Motoyasu got his hands on two sons of the slain castle commander, [[Udono Nagamochi]], which he used as barter with Ujizane. Perhaps due to the fact that the Udono were a important Imagawa retainer clan, Ujizane unwisely agreed to release Motoyasu's family members in return for the Udono children. As soon as he was reunited with his wife and son, Motoyasu was free to make any moves we wished without hindrance. The next few years were spent rebuilding a Matsudaira clan badly fragmented by years of strife and a province weakened by war. To this end he carefully nurtured and strengthened his retainer band by giving them lands and positions within the administration of Mikawa. Chief among his followers at this time were [[Ishikawa Kazumasa]], [[Sakai Tadatsugu]], [[Sakikabara Yasumasa]], [[Koriki Kiyonaga]], and [[Honda Tadakatsu]]. Luckily, there were castles to be had within Mikawa's borders, manned by Imagwa men, and these would be taken and redistributed by [[1566]].  

In [[1563]], meanwhile, Motoyasu strengthened his ties with the Oda by betrothing his four-year-old son Nobuyasu to Nobunaga's daughter [[Oda Tokuhime]].

He defeated the militant Mikawa monto in March [[1564]] in a sharp encounter that saw him actually struck by a bullet that failed to penetrate his armor. Soon afterwards he began testing the Imagawa defenses in Totomi. Having thus begun to make a name for himself, in [[1566]] he petitioned the court to allow him to change his name to Tokugawa, a request that was granted and so from this point he became known as Tokugawa Ieyasu. He liked to claim that his blood was Minamoto, and cited descent from the Nitta clan to this end. In fact, little at all is known of the Matsudaira/Tokugawa prior to the 15th Century, and Ieyasu's claims seem a tad unsupportable. Some indication of the genealogical spin-doctoring Ieyasu freely engaged in can be gleaned from the fact that he also had an alternate family tree drawn up that claimed descent from the noble Fujiwara.  

Motoyasu defeated the militant Mikawa [[monto|montô]] in March [[1564]] in a sharp encounter that saw him actually struck by a bullet that failed to penetrate his armor. Soon afterwards he began testing the Imagawa defenses in [[Totomi province|Tôtômi province]]. Having thus begun to make a name for himself, in [[1566]] he petitioned the court to allow him to change his name to Tokugawa, a request that was granted and so from this point he became known as Tokugawa Ieyasu. He claimed descent from the [[Nitta clan]], and through them, the [[Minamoto clan]] (heads of the [[Kamakura shogunate]], and descendants of the Imperial line), as a means of asserting or defending his legitimacy, and had genealogies drawn up to support these claims. In fact, little at all is known of the Matsudaira/Tokugawa prior to the 15th century, and Ieyasu's claims seem a tad unsupportable. Some indication of the genealogical spin-doctoring Ieyasu freely engaged in can be gleaned from the fact that he also had an alternate family tree drawn up that claimed descent from the noble [[Fujiwara clan]].  

Though the Tokugawa could claim some modicum of freedom, they were very much subject to the requests of [[Oda Nobunaga]]. When Oda marched on Kyoto in [[1568]], Tokugawa troops were present, the first of many joint Oda-Tokugawa ventures. At the same time, Ieyasu was eager to expand eastward. He entered into a brief pact with [[Takeda Shingen]] of [[Kai province|Kai]] and [[Shinano province|Shinano]] aimed at absorbing the remaining Imagawa territory and by [[1570]] Ieyasu had added Totomi to his domain. The Takeda occupied Suruga and it may be that Ieyasu regretted his dealings with Shingen, for even before Shingen had taken Sumpu, Ieyasu was sheltering Ujizane and promising to restore his lands to him.<ref>Ieyasu was not particularly well-known for his sentimentality, but he did attempt to make good on his promise to Ujizane, suggesting to Oda in 1582 (after the defeat of the Takeda) that the former Imagawa daimyô be given back Sumpu. Nobunaga, however, flatly refused to give his approval, and so Ujizane whiled away the rest of his life in easy retirement. Under the Tokugawa bakufu, the Imagawa would become Koke, or landless Masters of Ceremonies.</ref> Needless to say, Takeda-Tokugawa relations began to sink, made all the worse by an attempt on Ieyasu's part to secure an alliance with Shingen's great enemy [[Uesugi Kenshin]]. As to inflame the situation, Ieyasu then moved his headquarters to [[Hamamatsu castle]] in Totomi (closer to Shingen), an action even Nobunaga called needless provocative. Soon the Takeda and Tokugawa would be at war. In June of 1570, Ieyasu led 5,000 men to help Nobunaga win the [[Battle of Anegawa]] against the [[Asai clan|Asai]] and [[Asakura clan|Asakura]], a victory owed largely to the efforts of the Tokugawa men. This would be the last opportunity Ieyasu would have to send troops west for two years, as the Tokugawa were increasingly pressured by the advances of the Takeda. In [[1572]] Ieyasu lost [[Futamata castle]], then suffered a defeat at the [[Battle of Mikatagahara]], where he was enticed to march out of Hamamatsu and face Shingen in open battle - and barely escaped with his life. Luckily for the Tokugawa, Takeda Shingen died later in the Spring of [[1573]], although his heir, [[Takeda Katsuyori|Katsuyori]], managed to capture the important Tokugawa fort of Taketenjin in [[1574]]. In [[1575]] Katsuyori surrounded [[Nagashino castle]] in Mikawa, and when word reached Ieyasu, he called on Nobunaga for help. When the latter dragged his feet on the matter, Ieyasu went as far as to threaten to join the Takeda and spearhead an attack on Owari and Mino. This was the sort of talk that Nobunaga respected, and he immediately led an army into Mikawa. The combined Oda-Tokugawa force of some 38,000 crushed the Takeda army on 28 June but did not vanquish it. Katsuyori continued to bother the Tokugawa afterwards, and the Takeda and Tokugawa raided one another's lands frequently.  

Though the Tokugawa could now claim some modicum of freedom, they were very much subject to the requests of Oda Nobunaga. When Oda marched on Kyoto in [[1568]], Tokugawa troops were present, the first of many joint Oda-Tokugawa ventures. At the same time, Ieyasu was eager to expand eastward. He entered into a brief pact with [[Takeda Shingen]] of [[Kai province|Kai]] and [[Shinano province]]s, aimed at absorbing the remaining Imagawa territory and by [[1570]] Ieyasu had added Tôtômi to his domains. The Takeda occupied Suruga and it may be that Ieyasu regretted his dealings with Shingen, for even before Shingen had taken Sunpu, Ieyasu was sheltering Imagawa Ujizane and promising to restore his lands to him.<ref>Ieyasu was not particularly well-known for his sentimentality, but he did attempt to make good on his promise to Ujizane, suggesting to Oda in 1582 (after the defeat of the Takeda) that the former Imagawa ''daimyô'' be given back Sunpu. Nobunaga, however, flatly refused to give his approval, and so Ujizane whiled away the rest of his life in easy retirement. Under the Tokugawa ''bakufu'', the Imagawa would become ''[[Koke|Kôke]]'', a clan with low official rank, and no landed domains, but of significant status within the shogunate, serving as masters of ceremonies within [[Edo castle]] and elsewhere.</ref> Needless to say, Takeda-Tokugawa relations began to sink, made all the worse by an attempt on Ieyasu's part to secure an alliance with Shingen's great enemy [[Uesugi Kenshin]]. Further inflaming the situation, Ieyasu then moved his headquarters to [[Hamamatsu castle]] in Tôtômi (closer to Shingen), an action even Nobunaga called needlessly provocative. Soon the Takeda and Tokugawa would be at war. In June of 1570, Ieyasu led 5,000 men to help Nobunaga win the [[Battle of Anegawa]] against the [[Asai clan|Asai]] and [[Asakura clan]]s, a victory owed largely to the efforts of the Tokugawa men. This would be the last opportunity Ieyasu would have to send troops west for two years, as the Tokugawa were increasingly pressured by the advances of the Takeda. In [[1572]] Ieyasu lost [[Futamata castle]], then suffered a defeat at the [[Battle of Mikatagahara]], where he was enticed to march out of Hamamatsu and face Shingen in open battle - and barely escaped with his life. Luckily for the Tokugawa, Takeda Shingen died later in the spring of [[1573]], although his heir, [[Takeda Katsuyori]], managed to capture the important Tokugawa fort of [[Siege of Takatenjin|Takatenjin]] in [[1574]]. In [[1575]] Katsuyori surrounded [[Nagashino castle]] in Mikawa, and when word reached Ieyasu, he called on Nobunaga for help. When the latter dragged his feet on the matter, Ieyasu went as far as to threaten to join the Takeda and spearhead an attack on Owari and [[Mino province]]s. This was the sort of talk that Nobunaga respected, and he immediately led an army into Mikawa. The combined Oda-Tokugawa force of some 38,000 crushed the Takeda army on 28 June but did not vanquish them. Katsuyori continued to bother the Tokugawa afterwards, and the Takeda and Tokugawa raided one another's lands frequently.  

In [[1579]] Ieyasu's eldest son, [[Tokugawa Nobuyasu|Nobuyasu]], and his wife were accused of conspiring with Takeda Katsuyori. Due in part to pressure from Nobunaga, Ieyasu ordered his son to commit suicide and had his wife executed. Like his late rival, Takeda Shingen, Tokugawa was known to run hot and cold, and could be utterly merciless when the overall fortunes of his clan were at stake. He would in time name his 3rd son, Hidetada, as heir, since his second was to be adopted by [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]].  

In [[1579]], Ieyasu's wife Tsukiyama-dono and their eldest son, Nobuyasu, were accused of conspiring with Takeda Katsuyori, against the Oda. Ieyasu arrived at [[Azuchi castle]] in 1579/7 unsuspecting, and bearing gifts for Nobunaga, only to find the latter ordering him to have his son kill himself. After much consideration and debate, Ieyasu succumbed to pressure from Nobunaga, and from the political circumstances, and on 9/15 ordered his son to commit suicide. He then also had his wife executed, in order to make sure Nobunaga was satisfied.<ref name=arai110>Arai Hakuseki, Joyce Ackroyd (trans.), ''Told Round a Brushwood Fire'', University of Tokyo Press (1979), 303n110.; Pitelka, 39.</ref> At this time Ieyasu had two more sons, [[Matsudaira Hideyasu]] (b. [[1574]]), and the newborn [[Tokugawa Hidetada]] (b. 1579/4), as well as two daughters (by concubines), [[Matsudaira Tokuhime|Tokuhime]] and [[Kamehime]]. Historian [[Morgan Pitelka]] argues that while losing a loved one is surely emotionally painful for any person, regardless of historical period or cultural background, samurai lords at this time had such a surplus of mates and children that they were able, and willing, to make such political sacrifices when necessary, and that this should not be taken to mean that Ieyasu was particularly cold or brutal.

In Spring [[1582]] the Tokugawa joined Nobunaga in finally invading and destroying the Takeda and for his efforts Ieyasu received [[Suruga province]], an acquisition which must have brought him no small private satisfaction. He now bordered the Hojo, and cautiously sounded them out, his efforts helped in part by a personal friendship from his hostage days in Sumpu, [[Hojo Ujinori]], bother of the daimyo, Ujimasa.  

In spring [[1582]], the Tokugawa joined Nobunaga in finally invading and destroying the Takeda. For his efforts, Ieyasu received Suruga province, an acquisition which must have brought him no small private satisfaction. He now bordered the Hôjô, and cautiously sounded them out, his efforts helped in part by a personal friendship from his hostage days in Sumpu, [[Hojo Ujinori|Hôjô Ujinori]], brother of the lord, [[Hojo Ujimasa|Hôjô Ujimasa]].  

Ieyasu was staying in Sakai ([[Settsu province]]) when Nobunaga was killed by [[Akechi Mitsuhide]] in June 1582 and narrowly escaped with his own life back to Mikawa. The Tokugawa were not in a position to challenge Mitsuhide, but did take advantage of the uncertainty following the [[Battle of Yamazaki]] to take Kai and Shinano, a move that prompted the Hojo to send troops into Kai; no real fighting occurred, and the Tokugawa and Hojo made peace. Ieyasu gave some of his lands in Kai and Shinano to the Hojo, though found himself embarrassed in this respect by Sanada Masayuki the following year. In the meantime, Ieyasu readily availed himself of the example of government left behind by Takeda Shingen and was quick to employ surviving Takeda men within his own retainer band. He avoided becoming involved in the conflict between [[Shibata Katsuie]] and Toyotomi Hideyoshi that culminated in the [[Battle of Shizugatake]] ([[1583]]), but became aware that sooner or later Hideyoshi would come to test his own resolve.

Ieyasu was staying in Sakai ([[Settsu province]]) when Nobunaga was killed by [[Akechi Mitsuhide]] in June 1582 and narrowly escaped with his own life back to Mikawa. The Tokugawa were not in a position to challenge Mitsuhide, but did take advantage of the uncertainty following the [[Battle of Yamazaki]] to take Kai and Shinano, a move that prompted the Hojo to send troops into Kai; no real fighting occurred, and the Tokugawa and Hojo made peace. Ieyasu gave some of his lands in Kai and Shinano to the Hojo, though found himself embarrassed in this respect by Sanada Masayuki the following year. In the meantime, Ieyasu readily availed himself of the example of government left behind by Takeda Shingen and was quick to employ surviving Takeda men within his own retainer band. He avoided becoming involved in the conflict between [[Shibata Katsuie]] and Toyotomi Hideyoshi that culminated in the [[Battle of Shizugatake]] ([[1583]]), but became aware that sooner or later Hideyoshi would come to test his own resolve.

*[[John Whitney Hall]] and [[Marius Jansen]] (eds.), ''Studies in the Institutional History of Early Modern Japan,'' Princeton University Press, 1968.  

*[[John Whitney Hall]] and [[Marius Jansen]] (eds.), ''Studies in the Institutional History of Early Modern Japan,'' Princeton University Press, 1968.  

*Marius Jansen (ed.), ''Warrior Rule in Japan,'' Cambridge University Press, 1995.

*Marius Jansen (ed.), ''Warrior Rule in Japan,'' Cambridge University Press, 1995.

*David John Lu, ''Sources of Japanese History,'' McGraw-Hill, 1974.  

*David John Lu, ''Sources of Japanese History,'' McGraw-Hill, 1974.

*[[Morgan Pitelka]], ''Spectacular Accumulation'', University of Hawaii Press (2016), 34-39.

*[[A.L. Sadler]], ''The Maker of Modern Japan,'' Tuttle, 1978.  

*[[A.L. Sadler]], ''The Maker of Modern Japan,'' Tuttle, 1978.  

*[[George Sansom]], ''A History of Japan 1334-1615,'' Standford University Press, 1961.  

*[[George Sansom]], ''A History of Japan 1334-1615,'' Standford University Press, 1961.